Machine for notching signatures



Aug. 5, 1952 A. cAHEN 2,605,837

MACHINE FOR NOTCHING SIGNATURES Filed Aug. 2, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR.

Aug. 5, 1952 A. cAHEN MACHINE FOR NOTCHING SIGNATURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2, 1948 A. CAHEN MACHINE FOR NOTCHING SIGNATURES Aug. 5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 2, 1948 NN N DHU n V 6R mw n M, www www www i JNVENTOR. BY [m500 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED .strains Parser 2,605,837 MACHINE Bonhomme-SIGNATURES mmaioahen, .olevelananeighta"ohio y application August 2, ima-.serial10,412,102

invention relates .to :the art-,ofglued books and-loonsists i of 'an improved :formof machine for usel-in-:makingwhefvsame. .This Vapplication -is .related v.to .my :coepending application Serial No. 737,322, filed Novemberzl, ,1947, to which reference may beihad fora fuller understanding Vof l the.presenti invention. p

.As explained in ;my. `co-pending vapplication, supra, the higher grades yof :books .according to 'the :present-'day practice have their signatures sewedtogether while other books-have their signatures .glued together for-ther purpose of economypthe: present-dayggluing. method being known in the trade as perfectbinding The equipv.ment for Athe sewing operationisquite expensive andfthat .requiredxfor the gluing method is also --soyexpensive that: only thelarger. establishments can'aiford'such m'acl'iines.y A

,Therefore, .as my co-pen'ding application, fsupra, `sohere also the-.general .object oflthe pres- .ient vinvention .is v. to make .it possible to lproduce .a ibook .withthe signatureglued together in such manner A. that ,the iinishedibook will proveimost `satisfactory in both v`au'stpearance 'and 'durability .and yet can ffbe `L,'produced,at a `reduced cost as compared with both the ,sewed book "and the present-day `glued book.A

More, specifically, lthe object' of mypre'sentdnvention isto devise an. improvedform ofmachine for notchingthe `folded edges of Lthesigna'tures as 'Sa .preliminary :step in^the making "of "a "glued book.' I Y Afnrther object is"to'devise suchwmmachine `that"is' capable' of `performing the lseveral"'suc cessive steps comprised the-notching 'operatieni in jan "efficient"and"dependablemanner, vincludingthe 'feeding of the signatures to 'position -within the-machine jfor V'the notching operation, holding thersame in 'such'` position, performing the not'ching eoperation' itself, `releasing the ysignatures "andl discharging; the same therefrom.y

*Astinmy co=pendin,fr-application;supra,-'so here also lit '-isranother object' to devisesuoh a'V machine thatf-can loe-used inithe making of l' a glued-'book two'up; that v"-is to #Sayjflthe making of Ltwo books :Itogther'asf aunitarywhlef and. thenf sawinglthesamelin'fhalffso as to-Iobtaintwo separate bookslwith correspondingly increasedA :saving in cost.

Still :another :object'of the :present: invention, -as.in2the rabovezcopending apphcationtisto provide a 'zmaehine Y'for making a ,;glued book iin which the end-sheets and inserts, eitherrfsinglelsprea-don double-spread, fmayzbe; addedV wherever desired .either rbetween. adjacent n'signatures or within any given signature, without pasting or notchingandhenoe in a convenient and efcient manner.

Altais to be understood that the method involved vin my present invention may be performed be- ;tween the usualoperations of folding and gath- .ering;.and mygpresent machine may be combined .with eitherthe-folding machine of the bundling press, or maybe integrated as part of a combined 4machineinwhich may be included also .suitable `'means for performing .thefolding and y.bund-ling c zyperations. A

.Otherxobjects Will'ap-pearfrom the following .description :andfcla-ims when considered together lwith-ithefaccompanying drawing.

i-Eig. 11 .is :a .side :elevation 4 of ,my present form ofimachine; l

#Fig '2 is La view from .the'feed-nend of the "machinawitlr parts broken away; Y

W--Fig f3 vis an enlarged View of the means for clamping and notchng ythe signatures;

Fig. 4 "is another partial detail .View of the knife-'mounting means; l and ',lFig. '5 is'a `view illustrating -a notched signa- ;ture; partially.

vIt is"to"be4understood-that the'present operationmaynbe performed immediately after the folding .operation and'that the signatures of `a given`book,'as'they come "from the folding machine, will vbe already arranged in separate groups. v:'Ihen'jl.proceed ,to feedtheNo. 1 signaxturesinto thermachine for the notching operation, in the. manner to, be lhereinafter more fully .lexplained.after whichl feed the No. 2 signatures vinto '..themachine for the same purpose .and in .the ,particular manner to be later de- .scribed,.,and. soon until all ofthe .different groups .of.-.-signaturesvhave been notched in the manner fdesired. l.Then all of the lsignatures of all lof 'theseveral .groups -are ready for the next opleratiomhy-.whi'ch-v they...will be .gathered intoV complete sets-includingoneof veach of .the several ngroups `Nos. `1.,- 2,..3 fete., as .will .be understood Afrom the following. These complete sets/of sig'- natures wmay be .bound .together in Ythe lsame manner as .setv forth i-n-rny co-pending .application, supra;l or in anyother suitablemanner.

Itis f to .be understood that my .present inven- ;tion :relates to only -an improved .machinefor forming the -lnotches in the folded. edges ofthe signatures; and that the lsubseou'ient operations inthe compieuonefthe ,book may beunders'tood gom the abovetmentioned co-.pending applica- .t on.

Briey, my present form of machine comprises clamping means for receiving and eiectively holding the signaturesone at a time in the notching operation, stop or guide means for determining the exact position to which the signatures are fed and in which they are held between the clamping means, shearing means for forming the notches in the folded edges of the signatures while held between the clamping members, and means for removing the signatures after the notching operation, together with operative connections for repeatedly performing the severall operations in a predetermined sequence.

In my present machine, the signatures S are supplied at the proper rate of speed in horizontal flat position along a suitable receiving bed or feed-way so as to enter between the continuously rotating rollers I, which may be of steel and are positively driven, and the companion rollers 2 op-v erated continuously by' mere frictional engagement upon the rollers I. The rollers I are driven through suitable gear connection from the delivery roller means 3, which may be of steel, operated continuously by the sprocket chain drive connection from the intermediate shaft 4 which, in turn, is driven by suitable gears from the shaft 5. The shaft 5 is driven from the main drive shaft 6 of the machine through the chain 1. Rollers I and 3 are on shafts Ia and 3a.

The signatures S in succession are fed into position between companion sets of lower fixed clamp means 8 and upper vertically movable clamp means 9, the upper clamp means being automatically opened to receive the signatures, one at a time, and then closed to clamp and hold each signature during the shearing operation. The opening and closing of the upper clamp means 9 is effected through the connecting rods I0 which have cam operating connection with the main drive shaft 6. The clamp means 8 and 9 are provided upon their faces at the delivery side thereof with equally spaced registering vertical grooves II and I2, respectively, to accommodate the vertically reciprocatable correspondingly formed knives I3 for shearing the folded edges of the signatures S at intervals therealong. The three edges of the lower beveled end of each knife bit I3 are adapted to cut a rectangular notch of desired depth.

The folded edge of each signature S, as it is fed by rollers I and 2 to position between the companion clamping means 8 and 9, will engage the upwardly extending rockably mounted guide arms I4 'which are adapted to project at their upper ends across the plane of engagement of the signature between the upper and Vlower clamping means so as to determine the proper position of each signature between the clamping means preparatory to the closing of "the clamping means and the shearing operation that immediately follows. Upon engagement of a signature S with the guide means I4, the rear edge of the signature will have passed the rollers I and 2, and the rollers 3 will slip idly without disturbing the signature which will then-be securely clamped in position. However. when the drop rollers 24, hereinafter referred to, are brought into engagement with the signature upon completion of the shearing operation and opening of the clamping means, there will be effected a positive gripping of the signature frictionally between the rollers 3 and 24 and the signature will be at once expelled from between the clamping means and carried away by the discharge means at the delivery end of the machine.

The guide arms I4 are mounted upon the bellcrank lever I5 |which in turn has operative cam connection with the main drive shaft 6. Each guide arm I4 ris adjustable by means of the screw I4a and the locking screw bolt Mb and slot therefor so as to permit different depths of notches according to the thickness of the paper. Each signature in such position will have its folded edge projecting slightly beyond the forward or delivery face of the clamping means, as indicated in Fig. 3, so as to be exposed for the shearing operation of the knives I3 which are operated from above back and forth along a reciprocatory path. These knives are mounted upon the upper transverse bar I6 which is adapted for vertical reciprocatory Vmovement by means of the operative cam connections I1 with the main drive shaft 6, the bar I6 being mounted upon the one end of the laterally extending arm f I8` which is rockably mounted about a xed horizontal axis I9 in the frame of the machine. As soon as a signature has been positioned between the open clamping means 8 and 9, the upper part of the clamping means will be closed into effective engagement upon the signature S while the guide means I4 still occupies active or raised position. Upon complete closure of the clamping means, the guide means I4 will quickly recede so as to be out of the path of the shearing knives I3 which are then brought down at once into operation. 'There will be sufficient clearance for operation of guides I4.

The shearing knives I3 are mounted so as to extend downwardly from the transverse bar I6 which is adapted for vertical reciprocatory movement through the connecting rods II which have operative cam connection with the main drive shaft 6. The knives I3 are so formed and positioned that their paths of movement will be along the registering grooves II and I2 provided in the faces of the clamping means 8 and 9, respectively, these parts being fit in a suii'icently snug manner to ensure most eicient clamping and shearing operations.

The bearing of axis I9 may be adjustable along a straight line by means of screw bolt and slot arrangement I9a so as to be able to obtain proper adjustment for the arm I8 and the knives I3.

The arm I8 is of such length and the extent of movement of the shearing knives I3 is so comparatively short that the path described by the knives will .be practically a straight line. Furthermore, each individual knife bit I3 has socket engagement near its upper endr with an individual set screw. or bolt 20 which extends through the companion holder bar 2I and holds the upper end portion of the knife bit I3 against the opposite depending spaced flange 2Ia of the bar 2I which is mounted upon the transverse bar I6; and each knife bit I3, at its, lower end, is resiliently held by a coil spring 22 which extends through the bar 2l and has its rear end engaged against the individually adjustable abutment 23a on the screw bolt 23h in the bar 23 which forms part of the knife assembly. thereby permitting individual setting of the knife bits for proper engagement. This constitutes also an automatic compensating means ensuring effective straightline movement of the knivesV ywithin their grooves.v Y L When theedge portion of a signature has been `shearedin the manner above explained, theuppercl'amping means 19 will be automatically raised to open position-so as'to per-mitfejectin of Ithe 4signature towards thefright, as `viewed in "Fig, f1. For this purpose I have provided the vdrop rollers 24 of rubber or other suitable mater'ialv mounted lfreely' upon i the transversely ex- .lte'n'ding shaft 25 -which-isladapted toibe lowered so as to bring rollers 24 into operative engagement with the continuously #rotating delivery signature which extendsirearwardly sufficiently Vforzsuchengagement, there will lbe .positive oper- Yative vengagement yof the same with the sigynature lfor :further advance .movement oi the same .throughthe machine so as to be delivered `therefrom at the V'right end thereof, as viewed in Fig. ,1. At theA delivery end of the machine, -endless tapes 3ll are driven continuously from .shaft4for delivery Aof the'notched signatures, it being understoodthat any suitable means may .be provided for this purpose. Immediately upon dischargeof notched signatures by the drop rollers 24 and the companion rollers 3, the drop rollers 24 will be automatically :raised out of operative position .and the next signature will be fed by the rollers l and 2 and overthe rollers 3 into position between the clamping Vmeans 8 and 9, such position "being determined by the guide or stopmeans I4.

.It .will Ybe .explained that .the .upper and llower iclainpimeans and the shearing `means are each Vformed .in ilaterally arranged l: pairs. The two lower clamping members 8 are 'adjustable towards and :from each lother'along the stationary `supporting bar 32, these 'clamp members havlingthescrewbolts33 YWhichzextend through suitable enlarged slots in the bar 32 so that these members may be conveniently adjusted to the desired position and then secured in such position. The two upper clamp members 9 may likewise be adjusted laterally along the transverse bar 34 .by means of the screw bolts 35 which are provided upon the members 9 and extend through the enlarged slots inthe bar 34. The transverse bar 34 is affixed to the upper ends of the upright plunger rods 36 which extend through the adjustable clamp members 9 and 8 and the transverse bar 32 with suitable clearance to permit such adjustment.

The plunger rods 3E have their lower ends engaged within laterally extending grooves 31 in the upper face of the transverse bar 38 which is adapted for Vertical reciprocatory movement by connection with the upper ends of the rods l0. The adjustment of the rods 36 along the grooves 31 permit the lateral adjustment of the clamp members in the manner above described. The upward movement of the bar 31 for opening the clamp means will be against the tension of coil springs 39 which have upward abutment against the under-side of the stationary bar 32 and which are of sucient strength to return the clamping members downwardly to closed position and to 6 'hold-the same effectively? n such l'position during the sharingoperation. A

'Thetwo ls'ets ofl-shea'ring-knives are adjustable later-ally upon the transverse lbar I6 fby means of-'thescrew bolts 4u and T4! which are connected 'to 'the holder l'bars 2l van'd`-'whicl1 are extended Athronghlaterally=fextending slots 140m rand `r4 I afin thebar `=l6. -Th'usth'e twoise'ts o ffknivesmay--be adjusted in accordance vwith-that of lthe clamp- -ing .means. `The purpose o'f this arrangement li's'ft'o 'change the width of the marginal space l:beltweenthe'ftwoparts `ofthe double form of signature 'which islater to-be'cut' in two, as explained. fOr, instead -of adjusting the clamping andl shearing-'meana the saine result may be accomplished "by `simpl-'y removing-or re-in'sertingany number vofthe lknife `bits i3 in the `region of :this marginal space, las they `are yindividually removable.

'The' grooves H Iand l2 willfbe 'of uniform -Width and lilkewisefthe knives'lS -willibeall ofthe-'same lwidth corresponding to that-of-fthe-groovesfwithinwhich they Vlare. reciprocated.`lr However, lthe groovesl may be cut 'back at an angle downwardly "and "rearwardly and widened Yat ltheir lower parts'f-so as to facilitate-discharge offthe'sh'ea'red :portions and to'prevent clogging of the grooves.

The'kni'vesiat the-two ends'ofthe-knife assemof a prospectivev ibook, that is f-signatures Nos. il, f3, f5 etc., throughthe'fmachine Ain one-position as-toright and-left ends in vthe machina-Sand -then run all 'of the even-'numbered signatures,

that is l\los.2,`4,` 6 etc.,lthrough 4the -ma'cliine'in reversed end-to-end position. 4Then, `when fall "of the signatures-have been notched-and thefsi'gnatures fare made up into book form with Athe lsuccessive `signatures 1, i2, 3 etc. in regular-farrangement, there will be obtained a 'staggered larrangement of the notches and a consequent increased strength in the `holding eie'ct of fthe `adhesi've'wh'ich is applied to the'notched edges fof the signatures, as more fully explained in my co-pending application, supra. 'It is`to be'underfstood vthat the staggered notches may overlap each other, as indicated also in the above co-pendin-g application, when the signatures are assembled and nished in book form. The difference in the spaces at the two ends of the knife assembly will be of proper extent to give the desired degree of overlapping staggered arrangement of the notches of the adjacent signatures.

It is to be understood that the several cams are so designed and arranged with respect to the shaft 6 as to actuate their respective parts of the machine and perform the corresponding operations in the proper sequence in accordance with the modus operandi herein set forth.

With my present machine structure, there may be effected a notching of the signatures in a positive and dependable manner over a long period of time due to the particular form, arrangement and manner of operation of the several parts as herein set forth; there is no interference vof the guide or stop means with the operation of the shearing means or with the discharge of the waste sheared portions of paper; the guide means is capable of adjustment for different depths of notches according to the thickness of the paper; the knives and grooves therefor are so designed and the knives are so operated that there is no other danger of clogging of the grooves; the

knives are automaticallycompensating and may be adjusted or set individually for ensuring most effective and dependable operation; the indvidual knifebitsmay be readily sharpened or renewed if ever required; the clamping and notchingr units may b e readily adjusted laterally to vary the marginaly spacein the middle region of the doublefsignature or a desired number of the .knife bits may be removed or re-inserted in this region according to the Width of the marginal space desired in any given case; the establishvmentofthe staggered arrangement of the notches the smaller establishments so far as the element of costis concerned. When the glue is applied, it will adhere to all edge portionsof each notch as well as to the corners thereof, with the result that there is obtained increased strength. A1so, according to my present method, there is approximately fty per cent less paper cut -off than in the case of the perfect binding and this also means increased strength as Well as a saving in paper and hencein cost. Finally, the employment of my present method may be followed by the regular steps of rounding and backing and thus there may be obtained at a comparatively low cost a finished book having the .qualities of a higher priced book. With my pres.-

ent invention, it is possible to make a book oi good and dependable quality Without having to resort to eitherof the more expensive methods of sewing and wire-stitching. As is well known, stitching with side Wires interferes with and practically prevents opening of the book into flat condition, while stitching with saddle Wire is not at all dependable as the leaves come loose. Other advantages resulting from my present invention willsuggest themselves to those who are familiar with theart to whichitrelatea 1t is to behunderstood that Vthe present form vo i disclosure is, merely for. the purposeof illustration andthat therey might be devised various modifications thereof v`without departing from the spiritof my invention-as herein set forth and c1ai1rl ed.Y

Intheart of makingbooks, a machine including' companion clamping -jaws capable of relativemovement the onewith respect to the other so as. to receive and clamp therebetween a book signature with the folded edge of the signature at thev outer vforward faces of. said clamping jaws, means for moving booksignatures successivelygto andl progressivelyv through and from position betweensaid jaws. said jaws being provided upon their facesat the outer delivery side thereof with registering grooves across the plane of engagement witha'signature, means reciprocatable in said` grooves lfor. shearing notches at intervals along .the folded back. Vedge of a book signature, said shearingmeans comprising a unitary assembly of shearing bits. individual resiliently compensating means upon said assembly and in transverse engagement with each of said bits for holding the same in operative position within its groove, and means for effecting in predetermined sequence the operations ofsaid signature-moving means, clamping jaws, and saidvshearing means.

` ALFRED CAHEN.

REFERENCES, CITED The following references are of record in the Ale of this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS4 Corcoran Mar. 7, 1939 

